Archive: Shift in GB herd structure contributes to strong production

Published 12 November 14

Recent BCMS data shows an increase in the number of dairy cows aged 30 to 66 months from October 2013 to October 2014. This combined with a reduction in the number of cows aged over 66 months has resulted in a more productive herd, boosting milk production as seen in 2014.

Going forward, production in 2015 is likely to continue to perform strongly as many of these cows will still be within their peak lactation years. In addition, there has been a slight increase in the number of heifers under 24 months old, signalling an increase in the number of potential herd replacements. However, a weather event or increase in culling could still impact future production.